Many people are aware and interested in Double-Glazed Windows and Doors. Their potential to lower energy bills, improve the appearance of the home and increase its property value has made it very popular. Triple Glazing on the other hand is a little less well known, and there’s a question amongst potential buyers of whether it’s worth it to go the extra mile and get Triple Glazing Windows or Doors rather than Double Glazing. In this article we’ll look at some of the key facts about Double and Triple Glazing; how they work, what kind of benefits they offer and what Triple Glazing does better.
Single, Double and Triple Glazing – How they work
Traditional single pane windows have, as the name implies, a single layer of glass. While they are cheap to buy and install (which traditionally made them appealing to buyers on a budget) they suffer from some serious deficiencies that in the long term can make them more costly. The main problem is their poor heat insulation and energy efficiency. Glass is an excellent conductor for heat and as such, warmth will pass through the glass from your home into the cold air outside. Windows like this are responsible for 10-18% of the heat lost from the house. The poor insulation also means that noise will easily pass through the glass pane.
Double and Triple Glazing differ greatly in their design. Double and Triple Glazing feature multiple panes of glass separated by a spacer bar which contains pockets of inert gas (usually argon). The gas is a poor conductor of heat, so the warmth can’t as easily escape. This does not trap the heat but slows its down and so reduces the loss of warmth from the home. Double Glazing (as the name suggests) has two panes and one pocket whereas Triple has three panes and two pockets.
The thickness of the insulation also means that noise is suppressed as well. In many cases, Double and Triple Glazing is mounted in uPVC frames. uPVC is a non-flaking, non-rotting material which is great for its durability. It’s also great for helping with insulating heat.
So, Which Should You Go For?
Now we know how they work; we’ll look at some of the most important factors.
Energy Efficiency
Compared to ‘single glazing’, Double and Triple glazing will always be winners. Single pane windows provide no meaningful insulation and can’t prevent much of any heat loss. But what’s the difference between Double and Triple Glazing when it comes to energy efficacy?
When it comes to window energy performance a ‘U value’ is used as a measurement. Single glazing, for example, has a U value of 5.6. This is markedly worse than the 2.8 of Double Glazing – but Triple offers a fantastic value of 0.8 (a wall, for example, has a rating of 0.3).
There are huge benefits to increased energy efficiency. Windows are the main place where heat escapes, he home, and during the winter it can leave parts of your house very cold. This means you’ll need to spend more heating your home, and in the long term (especially given the cost of energy bills) this can rack up.
Switching from Single Glazing to Double Will do a huge amount – but if you really want to save and keep your home heated, nothing can really beat Triple Glazing.
Security
Triple Glazing is significantly harder to break than double, the additional layer of thick glass (combined with the tough frame of uPVC) will ensure your home is provided with great additional security. Double Glazing itself is a great option for increased security over single pane windows.
Noise Reduction
Triple Glazing again wins in Noise Reduction. The thickness of glass the vital part of sound insulation; three panes with spacing will always outdo two, and Triple Glazing is excellent for reducing noise. If you live in a particularly noisy area and want a bit more peace and quiet.
Cost
Here is the one place Double ‘wins’ out on – Double Glazing is cheaper and remains a very good investment for your home; boosting property value, adding to the appearance of your home, and helping cut down on bills in the long term. But, with Triple Glazing you gain all these benefits and in the long term you’ll benefit from the cost reduction of heating – which can do a lot to recoup from the original investment.
Conclusion
Overall Triple Glazed Windows do everything Double Glazed but better – but Double Glazed ‘win out’ in terms of the cost of original investment. Both are excellent investments, but in the long-term Triple Glazed provide serious benefits.
Advanced Windows Edinburgh – offer expert double and triple glazing advice, contact them today.
